Ironing machine



IDetl. 5, 1933. J, T, HUME l 1,937,572

IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec.` 5, 1933. J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Shea?I 2 QN a i. l', 2.... ,Ww @QN .@m,

1 til Dec. 5, 1933. l J. T. HUME IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12, 1929 s sheets-sheet 3 'z ir iro'iiin'g I machines arid I 'Dffsr-Aras john T. Hume, Chicago,

AApplication January 12, 15 claims.

This if invention` relates to improvements in *Y I `its purpose is to provide anfimproved and simplified form of ironing machine whichmay be manufactured at a relatively small y cost andfuse'din'homes for the ironing of f clothesvv and fthe like. Heretofore,l ironing maohines' ha'veusuallyi been rather large and somewhat complicated so that their cost has prevented their use in many households andit is, therefore; the principal object of the present invention to providevr arelatively small and inexpensive form of ironing machine which is parfmachirie of a portable ing an ironing roll ticularly adapted vfor household use because of its relatively small cost and because of the comparatively smallfspace-it'occupies. A further object of the invention is to provide an ironing n nature which may be moved about and supported on atable or the like when in use. A further object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine of simplified form comprising'improved means for rotatand for effecting relative movement of an ironing shoe and the ironing roll. Still `anotherfobject isto provide an improved ironing machine comprising means for controlling the operation ofthe roll and for controlling fthe movement of the'shoe toward and from the roll. Other objects relate'to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter. l

The nature of the invention will be understood `Y from the following specication taken 'with the accompanying drawings, in'which one embodiment is illustrated.` In the drawings,

Figure l shows atop plan view of the ironing machine;

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation, looking toward the left asviewed in Fig. 2;

`Fig.4 showsa vertical detail section through the ironing shoe and its support on the line improved Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail vertical section through the housing of the ironing machine and the parts contained therein, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 is an Aenlarged detail sectional view taken ontheiline 6-6 of Fig. 1;

iFig. 7 is a horizontal detail sectional view taken on the -line '1 -'7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a horizontall section taken lonigtudi- 'wnally through the 'roll and driving mechanism of the ironing machine on the linev 8-8 of Fig. 5', and

Fig, 9 is an enlarged detail section, similar Household Utilities Corporation, ra corporation of Illinois' PATENT ortica 1,937 ,5'72 IRONING MACHINE Ill., assigner to Electric Chicago, Ill.,

1929. Serial No.,332,062

to that of Fig. 8, showing a portion of the driving mechanism of the roll and the clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of the roll.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises a supporting base or 60 plate 10 which'is adapted to rest upon a table orother support 11 and which is preferably provided with a suitable number of rubber cush-Q ions 12 or the like for contacting directly with the surface of the table. The frame or housing c5 14 of the ironing machine is mounted on one end of the base 10 and the lowerpart of this housing is constructed as a dome-shaped casing 14a which contacts around its lower edge with the base 10 and is secured thereto .by studs 15 70 extending upwardly through apertures in the base 10 and engaging threaded bosses in the lower part ot the frame or housing 14.

The housing 14 has an upward extension 14",4 as shown in Fig. 6, which is provided, as illus- 75 trated in Fig. 8, with an annular horizontal extension 14e. Within the part 14c there is mounted a fixed hollow shaft or axle 16 upon which the ironing roll 17 is rotatably mounted. The from the hous- 80 ing 14 above and parallel to the base 10 in such a position that the lower peripheral portion of the ironing roll 17 is Ydisposed some distance, above the upper surface of the base. The roll 17 comprises two sheet metal disks 18 provided 85 with longitudinally directed annular flanges 18a having bushings 19 mounted therein and journaled on the axle 16. At the outer edges, the disks 18 are directed outwardly in the form of longitudinal flanges 18b which-are united with 90 and closely nt the inner surface of the metal cylinder 20 which forms the frame structure of the roll 17. Upon this metal cylinder 20, there is wound a suitable number of layers of fabric 21 to serve as the medium for contacting directly 95 with the clothes being ironed. At the outer end of the roll 1'7, the disk 18 is provided with an aperture 22 `which is detachably engaged by a pin 23 mounted in a driving member 24. This driving member is slotted to receive the pin 23 100 member 24 is further' provided with an inwardly 11.0

has a pin 23b by 105 extending hub 24* having a bushing 31 thereon which is journaled in the outer endof the faxle 16, thus supporting the driving member 24za nd also the outer end of the driving shaft 30. The inner end of the driving shaft is journaled in the` hub 32` of the driving gear 32 and this hub 32a" is provided with a bushing 33 which is in turn journaled within the inner end of the stationary axle 16. When a driving connection is established between the gear 32 and the shaft 30,

lthe lroll 17 is rotated, assuming that the pin 23 is in the engaging position shown in Figf.

'Ihe gear 32 is driven by a spiral gear 34 which extends vertically within the portion 14b of the housing. naled at its upper and lower ends in the bearings 35 and 36, respectively, which are carried in suitable apertures formed in the housing; 'I'he lower bearing member 36 hasa threaded engagement with an aperture in the housing and is provided with recesses 36a for engagement by the prongs of a suitable wrench so that it may be turned into proper position after the shaft of the spiral gear 341s in place. The shaft of the spiral gear 34. carries another spiral gear 37'which meshes with a spiral gear 38 mounted on an intermediate l shaft 39. This shaft 39 is journaled in bearings 40 and 41 which are mounted in the walls oil the casing.' the latter bearing member 41 having a threaded engagement with the casing so-that it may be removed to permitthe withdrawal of theV shaft 39. The shaft 39 has fixed thereon or formed lintegrally therewith another -spira1 gear 42 which meshes with a spiral gear 43 secured on he shaft 44 of Aan electric motor 45 which provides the driving power for the ironing machine. The motor 45 is mounted within the lower portion 14 of the housing 14 and is secured in place by a threaded engagement of the hub 46 thereof with an aperture which is formed in the wall 47 separating thelower portion of the housing 14 from the upper'portion 14b thereof,y as illustrated in Fig. 6. 'The hub 46 is provided with a roller- .bearing 48 in which the shaft 44 of the motor is mounted and, by the arrangement just described, the casing of the motor 45 is suspended from the division wall 47 of the housing 14 with the axis of the shaft 44 extending vertically. A nut 49 serves to secure the spiral gear 43 in its place splined on the shaft 44. An opening 15a is provided in the base 10 to permit access to the motor 45 from beneath'the base. After the motor has been disengaged from the division wall 47, it may be removedfrom the housing 14 by withdrawing the studs 15 which secure the housing to the base 10.

The electric motor 45 is connected in a suitable electric circuit and when this circuit is closed, the driving gear 32 is operated continuously. For

vthe purpose of controlling the operation of the driving shaft 30 by the gear 32, certain clutch mechanism is porvided comprising an inner clutch member 50 which is secured on the projecting end-of the shaft 30 by a transverse pin 51. This clutch member is provided with longitudinal teeth which forma sliding driving en sagement with similar teeth on an outer clutch sleeve 52. This clutch sleeve is provided at one end with an annular series of clutchteeth53 which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of a clutch member 54 secured to the face of the gear 32 by means of rivets 55. When the clutch member 52 is in its inner position, as shown in Fig. 8, the clutch teeth 53 and 54 are in engagement and a drivingconnection is then established between the gear' 32 and the as shown in Fig. 5, and which is jourdriving shaft 30. The outer end of the clutch member 52 is secured to a circular plate 56 having its center attached to'a plunger 57 which extends into the bore 58 of a shaft 59 which is rotatably mounted in the detach-v able end cap 60 of the housing14. A coil spring 61 is mounted in the bore 58 and serves` normally to force the, plunger 57 toward the left as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9, thereby tending normally to cause the clutch teeth 53 lto engage the `clutch member 54 mounted ment of the clutch member 52v to the disengaged position shown in Fig. 9 is effected by means of a bell-crank lever 63 which is pivoted at `64 on a bracket 65 attached to the housing'l4 by means of a set screw 66. The bell-crank lever is provided with a bifurcated arm 63e which straddles the clutch member 52 and the ends of this bifurcated arm are adapted to engage'the annular flange 52a formed on one end of the clutch member when the other arm 635 of the bell-crank lever is depressed, thereby disengaging the clutch teeth. 'Ihe depression of the arm 63b of the bellcrank lever 63 is brought about by engagement of a cam with a roller 71 which is rotatably mounted on the end of the arm 63h. This cam 70 i`s keyed on the shaft 59 previously described and the end of this shaft is provided with a transverse bore 72 formed in the enlarged head 59 to receive an operating handle 73 which slidably engages this bore and which is adapted to be held in the desired position therein by means of a ball 74 which is pressed by the coil spring 75 to engage one of the annular grooves 73a which are formed in the handle 73. Upon turning the handle 73, the bell-crank lever vmay be operated to disengage the clutch teeth and thereby permit the driving gear 32 to rotate Without rotating the shaft 30 by which the roll 17 is driven.

The ironing shoe 77, which is adapted to contact with the ironing roll 17, is shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 Where it is illustrated as including a metal plate v78 of substantially the same length as the roll 17 and provided Ion its inner side with a concave surface 78a adapted to conform to the curvature of the external cylindrical surface of the roll 17. The upper and lower edges lof the plate 78 are provided with flanges 78b which are adapted to hook over the supporting plate 79 which has a similar curvature and which is of substantially the same length. This plate 79 is mounted upon a supporting bracket 80 and it is spaced from the plate 78 to form an intervening heating chamber 8l in which is located a heating element 82 comprising an electric conductor located between sheets of insulating material yor "embedded in insulating material and spaced from the rear supporting plate '79 by means of a body 83 of insulating material. 'I'he electrical conductor of theheating element 82 is connected in an electric circuit to a tting 84 which is mounted upon one end of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2, and which contains suitable terminals connected to the electric-con ductors 85. These conductors 85 and other branch conductors 86 lead from supply conductors 88 which are connected in an electric circuit through the usual connecting plug 89. The branch conductors 86 are connected to the terminals of the electric motor 45 and flow of current through heating 'element of the shoe is controlled by a switch 87 mounted on a part of the housing 14 and controlled by an operating handle 87a.

,The shoe 77 is carried by a supporting arm 90 on the gear 32. The movewhich is provided at its upper end with a hub 90B mounted to extend between the arms of the bracket 80 from which it is spaced by collars 91. A bolt 92 extends through the arms -of the bracket 80 and through the hub 90a from which it is spaced by a bushing 93 and this bolt is secured in place by a nut 95 engaging the threaded end thereof. The shoe 77 is thus capable of pivotal movement on the supporting arm 90 and it is caused to maintain the normal condition shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by means of a leaf spring 96 which is secured to the arm 90 by a screw 97 and which extends around the hub 90n with its free end directed downwardly and engaging the flange 78b at the lower edge of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 4. This normal position of the shoe'77 is such that when the arm 90 is moved to cause the shoe 77 to lengage the roll 17, the lower edge of the plate 78 engages the roll 17 before the upper portions of the-shoe engage theroll. The ironing shoe thus has a progressive engagement with the roll from its lower edge upwardly as the shoe is moved toward the roll by a rockingmovement of the supporting arm 90 and this is adapted to insure the ironing of clothes in case portions of the clothes are projected between the shoe and the roll before the shoe is brought entirely into engagement with the roll or the clothes to be ironed. The lower end of the supporting arm 90 is provided with a bifurcated hub 90b provided with a pair of projecting ears 98 engaged by a threaded stud 99 so that the supporting arm 90 may be clamped securely on the end of a hollow shaft 100, as shown in Fig. 4. This hollow shaft 100 is journaled in bushings 101 which are fixed within a hollow axle 102 illustrated particularly in Fig. 8. This hollow axle is secured within the rear extension 14b the roll 17 is carried. shaft 100 is closed by a hub 90b closely engages hollow axle 102.

The inner end of the hollow shaft 100 projects beyond the inner end of the hollow axle 102 into the chamber 104 of the housing extension 14", this chamber being normally closed by a detachable cover 105. This projecting extremity of the hollow shaft 100 is provided with a transverse slot in which there is fixed a pin 106 of rectangular cross-section which maintains the shaft 100 against longitudinal displacement in the hollow axle 102 and also provides means whereby the shaft may be rotated and out of engagement with the roll 17. The

plug 103 and the split the outer end of the pin 106 has a projecting rounded extremity 1069-,l

shown in Fig.- 6, which engages a recess 107 formed in onerside of a cylindrical block 108 which is mounted to slide in the cylindrical portion 14e of the housing 14 which connects the rear extension 14d with the upper portion 14b of the housing. The block 108 is mounted for sliding movement on a plunger 109 which is united at its upper end with a piston 110 mounted to slide in the cylindrical casing14e. This piston 110 is held -against rotation in the cylinder 14e by means of a set screw 111 which engages a groove 112 formed in one side of the piston. This piston is further provided with a pair of projecting ears 112 between which extends a pin 113vof circular cross-section upon which is roller 114. vThis roller is adapted to engage the A face 70b of the cam 70 previously described, this face being located opposite to the face 70L which is engaged by the roller 71 for operating the clutch lev'er 63. A coil spring 115 is'mounted of the housing 14 by which The outer end of the hollow to move the shoe 77 into' the roll 17 is not mounted aj around the plunger 109 between the piston 110 and the block 108 and this spring tends normally to force the block 108 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 6. The lower end of vthe plunger 109 is reduced in cross-section as shown in 109EL and is engaged by a washer 116 which seats against the shoulder at the end of the body portion of the plunger to limit the downward movement of the block 108. A nut 117 engages the threaded lower extremity of the plunger 109 to hold the washer 116 in place and the coil spring 118 en'- gages the washer 116 and surrounds the nut 117 with its lower end engaging a recess 119a formed in the cap member 119. This cap member threadedly engages the lower end of the housing extension 14e and may be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring 118' which normally forces the plunger 109 in an upward direction to maintain the roller 114 in close Contact with the cam surface 70h. When the handle 73 is operated to rotate the cam 70 to a. position wherein the cam surface 70a and the bell crank lever 63 permit the clutch member 52 to be thrown into driving position by the action of the coil spring 61, the rotation of the cam 70 operates simultaneously, through thecam surface 70", to force the plunger 109 towardthe right, as viewed in Fig. 6, thereby. transmitting motion through the coil spring 115 to the pin 106 so that the hollow shaft 100 is rotated to rock the supporting arm and thereby move the shoe 77 intoengagement with the roll 17, as shown in Fig. 6. When the operating handle 73 is turnedlto a position where- -in the cam 70 disengages the clutch 52 by the ing the hollow shaft through thepin 106 and y moving the ironing shoe 77 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The cam surface 70b is of such configuration that it accommodates this movement of the shoe asthe roller 114 passes along the cam surface from engagement with one extremity of the cam surface to the depression at the other ond thereof. A single cam operated by asingle controlling arm or lever is thus employed for controlling the engagement and disengagement of theA clutch which actuates the roll and also for controlling the movement of the ironing shoe toward and from the roll. By this means, the separation of the shoe and roll is insured when being rotated through the clutch by the drivingmotor.

It will be apparent that the foregoing invention provides an ironing machine of compact and simple form which may and readily' assembled tures which enable it to and whichembodies feabe operated conveniently ment andthe mounting of the housing on a sup- An electric switch in a l be cheaply manufactured y and safely by persons who are not skilled in the v operation of machinery.

`porting base 10, adapted to be supported on a table or the' like, the machine may be moved about conveniently and stored in a relativelyv small space when not in use.

Although one form of the invention has been 5 shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

.I claim:

1. The combination in a v household ironing machine, of a portable base adapted to rest upon an elevated support, a tubular housing secured to one end of said base and extending upwardly therefromto form a supporting column, ironing elements carried by said housing and extending 'endwise therefrom over said base,'a driving motor mounted within said housing above said base, a

vertical shaft within said housing driven by said motor, driving connections between said shaft go 'and one of said ironing elements, and means operated from the outside of said housing' for controlling said driving connections.

2. 'I'he combination in a ,household ironing machine, of a portable base adapted to rest on g5. an elevated support, a tubular housing secured on said base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a supporting column, an ironing roll and a shoe carried by said housing, actuating mechanism mounted in theupper part of said housing for rotating said roll, and a driving motor mounted in the lower part of said housing with its shaft I extending vertically and operably connected to Said mechanism.

3. 'I'he combination in a household ironing machine, of a portable base, a tubular housing mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a supporting column, said base having an aperture therein beneath said housing, a motor mounted in said housing above said aper- 0 ture, driving mechanism mounted in the upper part of said housing and actuated by said motor, and an ironing roll carried by said housing for operation by. saidmechanism.

4. The combination in 'an ironing machine, of

.45 a portable base, a housing mounted upon one end` of said Ibase and extending upwardly therefrom, an ironing roll and an ironing shoe carried entirely by said housing and extending endwlse therefrom over said base, said housing having a v gg horizontal division wall, a motor mounted in the lower part o f said housing and having its shaft journaled in said division wall, and mechanism located in the upper part of said housing directly above the motor and driven by said shaft for L rotating said roll.

Y 5. The combination in an Aironing machine, of

a housing, a roll and a shoe carried by said housing and extending endwise' therefrom, driving mechanism in said housing for rotating said roll, 0 0 a clutch for controllingsaid driving mechanism,

shoe mounted thereon, a compressible operating device slidably mounted in a part'of said housing and connected to said shaft for effecting a rocka5 ing movement thereof, a cam adapted to effect movement of said operatng. device, means operat-A ed by said cam, to control the operation of said clutch, and means for rotating said cam.

6. The combination in an ironing machine, of

a housing, an ironing roll carried by said housing,

a shoe for cooperation with said roll, a rock shaft having said shoe mounted thereon, said housing having a tubular'part, a block slidably mounted machine, of a portable base plate. adapted to rest upon a table, a tubular housing secured on said 150 in said tubular part and having' a connection with thereof, and means including a cam-for effecting longitudinal movement of said block. s

7. 'I'he combination in an ironing machine', of a housing, an ironing roll carried by said housing, a shoe for cooperation with said roll, a rock shaft having said shoe mounted thereon, said housing having a tubular. part, a block slidably mounted in said tubular part and having a connection with said rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, an operating member resiliently con-f' nected with said block and having a roller mount-l ed thereon, and a cam lto cooperate with said roller for effecting longitudinal movement of said operating member and said block.

8. The combination in an ironing machine, of a housing', an ironing roll carried by said housing, a shoe for cooperation withsaid roll, a rock shaft having said shoe mounted thereon, said housing having a tubular part, a block slidablyl mounted in said tubular part and having a connection with said rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said casing and having a sliding engagement with said block, a spring interposed between said v plunger and said block,vand a cam adapted .to effect longitudinal movement of said plunger and said block. 1

9. The combination in an ironing machine, of a housing, an ironing roll carried by said housing, a shoe for cooperation with said roll, a rock shaft having saidshoe mounted thereon, said housing having a tubular part, a block slidably mounted in said tubular part and having a connection with said rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said casing and having a sliding engagement with said block, a spring "interposed between said a housing, an ironing roll carried by said housing,

a shoe for cooperation with said roll, a rock shaft having said shoe mounted thereon, said housing having a tubular part, a block slidably mounted in said tubular part and having a connection with said rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said tubular part and having a sliding engagement with said block, a spring interposed between said plunger and said block, a roller mounted on said plunger, a cam cooperating with said roller for effecting longitudinal movement oi' said plunger and said block, a second spring engaging said plunger independently of said block for maintaining said roller in contact with said cam, and means for .adjusting the tension of said last-named spring. a shaft journaled in said housingand having said 11. The combination in an ironing machine, of a housing, an. ironing roll carried by said housing, said housing having a tubular extension extending therefrom transversely to said roll, a hollow axle extending parallel to said roll and carried by said base and extending upwardly therefrom to form a supporting column, an ironing roll and a shoe carried by said housing and extending en dwise therefrom over said base plate, actuating mechanism mounted in said housing for rotating said roll, a driving motor mounted in the lower part of said housing and having its shaft extending upwardly therefrom to operate said actuating mechanism, and manually controlled means for moving said shoe and controlling the operation of said mechanism by said shaft.

13. The combination in a household ironing machine, of a portable base plate adapted to rest upon a table, a housing mounted on said base plate, an ironing roll carried by said housing and projecting endwise therefrom over said base plate, said housing having a tubular extension extending therefrom transversely to the axis of said roll, a rock shaft carried by said tubular extension and extending parallel to said roll, an ironing shoe carried by said rock shaft, a device movable in said tubular extension for actuating said rock shaft, and means located in'said housing for operating said device and rotating said roll.

14. The combination in a household ironing machine, of a portable base plate adapted to rest upon a table, a tubular housing secured on said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, an

. an ironing roll and plunger and said block.

ironing roll and a shoe carried by said housing and extending horizontally therefrom over said housing having a mounted in said tubular nection with tubular part, a block slidably part and having a co'nsaid rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of said block.

15. The combination in a household ironing machine, of aportable base plate adapted to rest upon a table, a tubular housing secured on said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom,

ing and extending a shoe carried by said houshorizontally therefrom over said base plate, a rock shaft extending from saidA housing and having said shoe mounted thereon,

said housing having a tubular part, a block slidably mounted in said tubular part and having a connection with said rock shaft for effecting angular movement thereof, a plunger slidably mounted in said casing andv having a sliding engagement with said-block, a spring interposed between said plunger and said block, and a cam adapted to effect longitudinal movement of said iioj 

